Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium has rightly earned its status as a hub of the rugby league universe – a state-of-the-art venue that creates an unrivalled atmosphere for players and spectators.
Redeveloped extensively in the early-2000s, the stadium is unrecognisable to the patch of land first leased by Queensland Rugby League in the 1950s. But the ghosts of Lang Park still contribute to the magic of the Suncorp Stadium experience.
No encounter at Lang Park is more important to the game’s fabric than the inaugural State of Origin match in 1980. The bold experiment was the brainchild of QRL supremo Ron McAuliffe, backed by NSWRL counterpart Kevin Humphreys to overhaul the ailing residency-based interstate football format.
Sydney-based Queensland stars Rod Reddy, Kerry Boustead and John Lang were selected for the Maroons alongside Brisbane tyros Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Chris Close. Captaining the squad was ageing legend Arthur Beetson, then struggling to hold onto a first-grade spot at Parramatta.
“‘Artie’ got the group together and introduced himself … for those of us who were 20, 21 and had never met him before, even standing in his company was pretty overwhelming,” Close recalled for the book A History of State of Origin.
“He looked at everybody and said, ‘These guys have got two arms, two legs, two eyes and an a***hole. If you don’t think you can beat them you may as well f**k off. Because I didn’t come up here not to win’. That was really the glue that stuck the 15 guys together in one hit, in one statement, in one moment.
“He was right. There was no reason why we couldn’t compete. The only thing between us and them was our willingness to perform. The effort we were willing to give. Whether or not we were prepared to die for the jumper we wore. And I made the decision that I was.”
Beetson led Queensland onto Lang Park amid a deafening roar from the 33,210-strong crowd, which softened somewhat after NSW winger Greg Brentnall finished off a 60-metre movement to score State of Origin’s first try.
A turning point occurred when Beetson flew in and unloaded punches on Blues back-rower Graeme Wynn, who had retaliated to heavy treatment in a tackle with an elbow on fiery Maroons halfback Greg Oliphant. An all-in brawl that would soon become an Origin trademark ensued.
Beetson’s offload sparked a superb passing movement that resulted in Close sending Boustead over out wide, while Meninga’s boot gave the home side a 9-5 halftime lead.
Another two Meninga penalty goals widened the gap, before Close produced a sizzling 30-metre solo try from a standing start. Meanwhile, Beetson famously whacked Eels and long-time Australian teammate Mick Cronin with a swinging arm, embodying the ‘state against state, mate against mate’ ethos.
NSW skipper Tom Raudonikis’ try proved mere consolation as Queensland closed out an instantly iconic 20-10 triumph.
“I didn’t want to let Arthur down, and during the game I watched the way he led us,” maiden man of the match Close reflected decades later.
“He was 35 playing in the toughest arena in the world … but he ripped and tore into them without any mercy or fear for himself – something just lit up inside of me.”
A rugby league juggernaut was born, with another one-off Origin clash staged the following season before the advent of the first three-match series in 1982.
A statue of the late, great ‘Artie’ graces Suncorp Stadium’s Northern Plaza at the Caxton Street end, alongside monuments to fellow 1980 originals and Immortals Lewis and Meninga.
